Power mechanism for sheet punching machines



y 1931. c. w. CRUMRINE v 1,304,090

POWER MECHANISM FOR SHEET PUNCHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hnnwcsmibwp May 5, 1931. c. w. CRUMRINE 1,394,99Q

POWER MECHANISM FOR SHEET PUNCHING MACHINES Filed Oct. '7. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hnmmmtbmm E e-tented May 5, WEE

unit r CHESTER W. GRUMRINE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELEGTROMATIC TYPEWRITERS, INC., OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK POWER MECHANISM FOR SHEET PUNCHING MACHINES Application filed October 7, 1927. Serial No. 224,750.

This invention relates to power mechanism adapted particularly for use in connection with key-operated machines, such as punching machines, power-driven typewriters and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide simple, positive and reliable mechanism, operable under the control either of keys or of perforated paper strips, to apply power selectively to a series of punches, key levers, type bars or the like, according to the nature of the machine in which the mechanism is used.

To the foregoing end, it is proposed to use a power driven, constantly rotary roller, providcd with longitudinal grooves or flutes, in combination with a series of actuators movably mounted adjacent the roller, each actuator being provided with a star wheel having arms adapted to cooperate with the flutes in the roller to cause the star Wheels to be turned thereby through a partial rotation. The novelty of the mechanism resides particularly in the fact that the relation of the parts is such that the star wheel has a togglelike action, in connection with the roller and the actuator, so that movement is imparted to the actuator by a radial thrust through one of the arms of the star wheel. The engagement of the star wheel with the flutes of the roller may be controlled either by a perforated strip, or by key operated means, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a sectional side elevation of the operative mechanism of a machine embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view on the line 33 in Fig. 1, but on a larger scale. F lg. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, showing particularly the part of the mechanism which relatesto a case shifting or analogous operation. Fig. 6 shows a different position of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of one of the actuators and the part-s immediately associated therewith, on the same scale as Fig. 3.

The invention is shown as embodied in a machine for punching the paper control strips which are subsequently used in controlling an automatic typewriter. The novel mechanism peculiar to the present invention is shown as used both for the purpose of actuating the punches, and also as cooperating with a previously perforated strip to produce, automatically, a duplicate of such strip through the action of the punch mechanism. The automatic strip-controlled part of the machine will first be described.

The machine is shown as provided with a horizontal transverse power roller 10, which supports and feeds an elongated perforated paper strip 11, this strip being wide enough to contain a longitudinal series of perforations for the control of each key lever of the machine. The roller 10 is provided, at its ends, with feed pins 12, which engage marginal perforations in the paper strip, to maintain correct registration of the paper and the roller. The power roller is driven constantly in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, by any suitable means. Diagrammatically, such means are shown as comprising a belt 13, pulleys 14 and 15 and a belt 16, connecting the roller 10 with a second power roller 17 The roller 17 is driven, through a Worm wheel 18 and a worm 19, by means of an electric motor 20.

The power roller 10 controls a series of actuators in the form of levers 21, mounted side by side on a pivot rod 22. For the sake of simplicity, only one such lever is shown in each of the drawings. Each actuator is provided with a stud 23, upon which a star wheel 24 is free to rotate, this wheel having four arms with rounded extremities. A stop lever 25 is pivoted on each actuator lever, and the shorter arm of the stop lever is connected with a spring 26 which pulls downwardly. The forwardly extending arm of the stop lever has a curved extremity, as shown in Fig. 1, which bears normally against two of the arms of the star wheel. The forward end of the actuator moves in a slotted guide 27.

As shown in Fig. 1, the positions of the shorter arm of the stop lever and of the spring 26 are such that the spring has a tendency, not only to pull downwardly on the forward arm of the actuator lever, and thus press the star wheel against the paper strip, but also t' maintain the of the stop lever in frictional engagement with the star wheel. Accordingly, the star wheel normally rides on the surfaceof the paper strip, with two. of its arms pressed lightly against the paper. If, however, a perforation is encountered in the portion of the paper upon which a particular star wheel is resting, this perforation permits the rearward arm of the star wheel to sink into one of the grooves of the roller, since the paper is so perforated that the openings always coincide with one of the grooves, 'it hen this occurs, the rotation of the roller causes a rotating movement of the wheel. This movement is free, so far as the pivotal rel.- tion of the wheel with the actuator is concerned, but the relation of the parts is such that the operative arm of the star wheel has a toggle-like relation with the actuator, so that the wheel, during the first part of its rotary movement, causes an upward thrust on the actuator and rocks it positively about its pivot 22. Unless a second perforation is encountered at once by the star Wheel, its rotary movement is limited to a quarter turn, during the second half of which movement the actuator is returned to its normal position by the spring 26, and at the end of which the star wheel comes to rest again with two arms riding upon the surface of the paper. 1t will be evident that the operation of the star wheel upon t e actuator is efiected positively by a radial thrust against the stud 23, the direction of this thrust being such that it tends to maintain the arm of the star wheel firmly in engagement with the groove in the power roller, and it will also be evident that there is no resistance to rotation of the star wheel upon its pivot stud, except for the slight friction applied by the stop lever 25.

The cooperation of the stop lever 25 with the star wheel is not essential to the operation of the latter, but this stop lever is used for the purpose of holding all of the star wheels temporarily in their correct normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1, at the time when the perforated strip is being removed from, or inserted in, the machine.

The actuators 21 may obviously be used to actuate or control any series of devices which must be selectively operated in a power driven machine. They are shown and described herein as utilized for the operation of a series of key levers 28, which, in turn, control the operation of a series of punches for perforating a paper control strip such as the strip 11. These key levers 28 are provlded with keys 29, similar to the keys of a typewriter, and are mounted on a pivot rod 30. The punches controlled by thelreys 22? are each actuated by a mechanism similar, 1n 1ts forward arm general mode of operation, to that by which the actuators 21 are operated, but in this case the star wheels are controlled by the keys, instead of by a perforated strip.

Each punch-operating mecha prises an actuator lever 31, mounted on a transverse pivot rod 32.

The lower arm 33 of the actuator 31 carries a pivoted star wheel 34. Alongside each actuatorv a stop arm 35 is mounted on the same pivot rod 32, and connected with the corresponding actuator by a tension spring 36. This spring causes the straight lower end of the stop arm to press normally against two of the arms of the star wheel 3 1, so as to hold it in the position shown in 1.

lhe star wheels are actuated by the power 'oller 17, previously referred to, which is fluted in the same manner as the power roller 10. The arms of the star wheels are normally held out of engagement with the power roller 17 by the action of the stop arm 35, but to throw any one of the star wheels into operative engagement with the power roller, it is given a slight partial rotation in a clockwise direction. For this purpose, each key lever 28 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 38, having a hooked end which engages an opening in the end of a trip plate 3'7. The trip plate is slotted, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the lower end of the stop arm 35 and the two depending arms of the corresponding star wheel. A spring 39 connects the rear end of the trip plate with the frame of the machine, and acts to maintain the trip plate normally in its rearward position and to hold the corresponding key lever 28 in raised position.

1f the key lever be depresse(l,'either by pressure against the key 29 or through the previously described action of the corresponding actuator 21, the resulting forward motion of the trip platecauses the latter to press the rearward lower arm of the star wheel forwardly, thus causing it to swing downwardly into engagement with one of the grooves of the power roller 17, and the rotation of the latter then causes a quarter turn of the star wheel. During the first part of this turning movement the star wheel has a toggle-like cooperation with the punch-actuator lever 31,

-' causing the lower end of this lever to be swung to the left. Before the turning movement of the star wheel is completed, however, the toggle comprising the actuator lever and the operative arm of the star wheel becomes straightened, and as soon as this arm passes beyond the straight line position the actuator lever is returned to normal position by means of a spring 64, which connects its lower arm with the frame of the machine, this return movement being arrested by a stop lug (Fig. 5). The operative arm of the staiwheel swings out of engagement with the power roller. slightly before the completion of the quarter turn, but this completion is effected by the pressure of the stop arm againstthe arms of the star wheel.

The partial rotation of the star wheel, just described, occurs while the key lever 28 is depressed and the trip plate 37 is in its forward position, and consequently, near the completion of the movement of the star wheel, an arm of the star wheel is swung downwardly against the upper surface of the trip plate. The spring 39 permits the plate, at this time, to be moved downwardly by such engagement, so that the trip plate'does not interfere with the quarter rotation of the star wheel, and when the key lever is thereafter released and the trip plate moves rearwardly, the trip plate is free to rise to normal position as soon as the end of the slot reaches the arm of the star wheel which has come to rest in the downward and rearward position, the parts being thus restored to normal position, as in Fig. 1.

Since the motion imparted to the actuators I 21 is slight, itis desirable that all lost motion in the mechanism be taken up as much as possible by close adjustment, and for this purpose the engagement of the actuator with the key lever 28 is arranged to occur through an adjustable screw 61, which is locked in adjusted position by a clamp plate and a lock screw 63.

Each of the punch actuators 31 engages a punch 40, the series of punches being used to perforate a paper strip 41, which is drawn from a suitable supply. This paper is fed by a toothed feed roller 42, the paper being advanced after the operation of each punch. In order to feed the paper at the proper time, a pivotally mounted universal bar 43 is used, this bar cooperating with a feed arm 44 pro-- jecting forwardly from each punch actuator. The universal bar has a rearwardly projecting arm 45 which is connected, through a link 46, with a bell-crank lever 47. This lever is attached, at its rear end, to a spring 48"and to a link 49 which actuates a pawl lever 50, journalled upon the axis of the feed roller. The pawl lever carries a spring-pressed pawl 51 which cooperates with a ratchet wheel 52 fixed to the feed roller. Upon the operation of each punch the universal bar is rocked upwardly, and through the connections described it moves the bell-crank lever 47 in a direction to cause the pawl to be retracted over one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 52, while the spring 48 is placed under tension. Upon the return of the punch actuator to normal position the spring 48 causes the pawl to turn the feed roller through the space of one ratchet tooth, thus advancing, the paper strip 41 the necessary distance.

In the operation of a typewriter certain functions, particularly the case-shift movement and the tabulating-stop movement, depend for their operation not only upon the depression of the corresponding key, but upon the release and return movement of the key, and in an automatic power operated typewriter, therefore, the perforated strip must control the timing of both the depression and the release of the shift key or the like, according to the length of time, in the operation of the machine, during which the key must be held down. In the mechanism herein described this is accomplished by slightly modifying the form of the star wheel which controls the case shift or similar function, this modified form being shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 5 is shown a key mechanism for controlling the shift or similar function, this mechanism being adapted to produce an actuating movement of the corresponding star wheel 34upon the depression of the key lever 53, and a second movement of the star wheel when the lever is released and permitted to' rise. This arrangement is adapted for use in a machine in which the star wheel directly operates a shift mechanism or similar part of a typewriter, but in the punching machine herein described it results in the production of two perforations in the paper strip, occurring at intervals dependent upon the length of time during which the key lever 53 is held depressed. ln thepresent instance the key lever 53 is mounted upon an independent pivot 66, and its forward end is held normally in raised position by a spring 67, attached to the rear arm of the lever. The

rear extremity of the lever is connected, by a toggle link 54, with a lever mounted upon the pivot rod 30. The upperend of the lever 55 is connected with the punch operating mechanism by the same means as those already described in the case of the other key levers of the machine.

l/Vhen the shift key 68 is depressed the toggle link 54 causes'the lever 55 to swing forwardly and then backwardly, thus causing a single complete operation of the corresponding punch mechanism. lVhen the shift key is released the spring 67 returns the key lever to its original position, and the toggle link again moves the lever 55 forwardly and rearwardly, thus causing a second operation of the punch mechanism.

Where the machine is controlled automatically, as above described, so as to produce a duplicate of the perforated strip 11, it is necessary that the key lever 53 be given a downward movement in consequence of the first perforation in the strip 11, and held in that position until a second perforation in the strip 11 permits the return of the lever 53 and the production of a corresponding second perforation in the strip 41. This is accomplished by utilizing a star wheel of special form, for the control of the particular key lever in question. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the arms of this star wheel are not uniformly spaced, but are arranged in pairs spaced relatively closely, so as to give the star wheel an elongated form. l lormally, two of the widely spaced arms engage the paper, as shown in 5, and the actuator lever 57 is in its normal position. In order to produce the required amount of movement in the key lever 53, the actuator 57 is provided with a slotted rear end which engages a pin 58 on a bell crank lever 59, this lever being pivoted at 60 on the frame of the machine. When the forward end of the actuator 57 is swung upwardly, by the action of the star wheel, the bell crank lever transmits to the key lever a motion somewhat greater than that imparted to the other key levers.

When the first of the two perforations, corresponding to a carriage shift movement or the like, encounters the star wheel 56, it causes the wheel to be turned to the position shown in Fig. 6. In so turning, the wheel raises the forward end of the actuator, and when the wheel comes to rest in the position of Fig. 6 it prevents the actuator from returning fully to normal position, so that the key lever 58 is held in depressed position until another quarter turn is imparted to the star wheel through the effect of another perforation in the paper strip 11. The key lever 53 may thus be held in depressed position through any time of operation, determined by the spacing of the perforations.

ll am aware that it has previously been proposed to operate an automatic typewriter by mechanism including a fluted power roller and a star wheel cooperative therewith, but in such previous instance the star wheel has cooperated with the roller in the manner of a gear, the power being transmitted through the star wheel directly by the rotary action of the wheel. lhc novelty of the present ar angement resides in the fact that rotation of the star wheel is not utilized as such to transmit power, but is merely incidental to the toggle-like action by which the power is transmitted as a radial thrust through one of the arms of the wheel.

The invention claimed is:

1. In power mechanism for sheet punching machines or the like, the combination with a plurality of perforating devices, of means for selectively actuating said devices comprising a longitudinally grooved roller, power means for rotating said roller, a perforated strip supported on and fed by said roller and having perforations arranged to register with the grooves in the roller, an actuator movably mounted near the roller, a star wheel rotatably mounted thereon, means for resiliently moving the actuator toward the roller so that two arms of the star wheel normally engage the perforated sheet thereon, whereby, upon encountering a perforation in the strip, one arm of the star wheel is engaged with a groove of the roller and moved thereby so as'to positively move the ace one actuator by reason of its radial thrust against its bearing on the actuator.

2. lln power mechanism for sheet punching machines or the like, the combination with a plurality of perforating devices, of means for selectively actuatingsaid devices comprising a longitudinally grooved roller, power means for rotating said roller, a series of actuators movably mounted near said roller, a star wheel rotatably mounted on each of said actuators, adjacent the surface of said roller and having four arms having rounded extremities adapted to have pivotal movement in pressure engagen'ient with the bottoms of the grooves in the roller, and means for selectively controlling the engagement of the star wheels with the roller, whereby any of the wheels may be caused to engage a groove therein, be partially rotated thereby to positively move the corresponding actuator by reason of its radial thrust against its bearing on the actuator.

in power mechanism for sheet punching machines or the like, the combination with a plurality of perforating devices, of means for selectively actuating said devices comprising a longitudinally grooved roller, power means for rotating said roller, an actuator movably mounted near the roller, a star wheel rotatably mounted on the actuator adjacent the surface of the roller, means for controlling the engagement of the star wheel with the roller whereby an arm of the star wheel may be caused to engage a groove there in and cause positive movement of the actuator, and a spring-pressed stop member normally engaging two arms of the star wheel and tending to hold the wheel in its normal stationary position on the actuator.

4. In power mechanism for sheet punching machines or the like, the combination with a plurality of perforating devices, of means for selectively actuating said devices comprising a longitudinally grooved roller, power means for rotating said roller, an actuator movably mounted near the roller, a star wheel rotatably mounted on the actuator adjacent to the surface of the roller, means for controlling the engagement of the star wheel with the roller whereby an arm of the star wheel may be caused to engage a groove therein and cause positive movement of the actuator, and a spring-pressed stop member normally engaging two arms of the star wheel and tending to hold the wheel in its normal stationary position on the actuator, the arms of said star wheel being of equal length and arranged at alternately greater and lesser angles, so that in the intervals between successive operations of the star wheel'the actuator is held alternately in two different positions.

5. In an automatic operator for punching machines or the like, the combination with a key lever operative for making an impression on a Work piece, of a driven roller having depressions in its surface, an actuator movable to actuate said key lever and arranged adjacent said roller, a sheet on said roller having perforations adapted to register with depressions therein, a star Wheel revolubly mounted on said actuator and adapted to engage a depression in said roller through a perforation in said sheet to berotated thereby to operate the actuator, and resilient means for pressing the star wheel in contact with said roller or the perforated sheet thereon.

6. In an automatic operator for punching machines or the like, the combination with a key lever operative for making an impression on a work piece of a driven roller having depressions in its surface, an actuator movable to actuate said key lever and arranged adjacent said roller, a sheet on said roller having perforations adapted to register with depressions therein, a star wheel revolubly mounted on said actuator and adapted to engage a depression in said roller through a perforation in said sheet to be rotated thereby to operate the actuator, a pivoted stop lever adapted to engage the star wheel, and resilient means for pressing the stop lever into frictional engagement with the star wheel and the star wheel in contact with said roller or the perforated sheet thereon.

7. In an automatic operator for punching machines or the like, the combination with a plurality of key levers operable for making impressions on a work piece, of a driven rollor having depressions in its surface, actuators movable to actuate said key levers and arranged adjacent said roller, a sheet on said roller having perforations adapted to register with depressions therein, a star wheel revolubly mounted on each of said actuators and adapted to engage a depression in said roller through a perforation in said sheet to be rotate-d thereby to operate the corresponding actuator, and resilient means for pressing the star wheels in contact with said roller or the perforated sheet thereon.

8. In an automatic operator for punching machines and the like, the combination with a plurality of key levers operative for making impressions on a work piece, of a driven roller having depressions in its surface, a plurality of actuators each adapted to engage and actuate one of said key levers, a star wheel revolubly mounted on each of said actuators adjacent said roller, means for selectively controlling the engagement of the star wheels with the depressions in said roller for turning the selected star wheel to move its actuator, and resilient means for pressing the star wheels toward said roller. 7

'9. In an automatic operator for punching machines and thelike, the combination with a plurality of key levers operated for making impressions on a work piece, of a driven roller having depressions in its surface, a plurality of pivoted actuators each adapted to engage and actuate one of said key levers, a star wheel l'evolubly mounted on eachof said actuators adjacent said roller, means for selectively controlling the engagement of the star wheels with the depressions in said roller for turning the selected star wheel to move its actuator, a stop lever pivoted on each of said actuators, and resilient means for pressing said stop levers into engagement with the respective star wheels and the star wheels toward said roller.

10. In power mechanism for punching machines and the like, the combination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, actuators movable to operate said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, re-

silient means for normally retaining said a star wheels out of engagement with said roller, and key controlled means for moving a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby to operate its actuator.

11. In power mechanism for punching machines and the like, the combination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, actuators movable to operate said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, stop arms adapted to engage said star wheels and normally retain them out of engagement with said roller, and key controlled means for moving a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby to operate its actuator.

12. In power mechanism for punching machines and the like, the combination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, actuators movable to operate said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, stop arms normally engaging said star wheels to retain them out of engagement with said roller, resilient means for pressing the stop arms into engagement with said star wheels, and key controlled means for moving a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby.

In power mechanism for punching machines and the like, the combination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, pivoted actuators for operating said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, pivoted stop arms, resilient means operative to retain the stop arms in frictional engagement with the star wheels to retain them out of engagement with said roller, and key controlled means for moving a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby.

15. In power mechanism forpunching machines and the like, the combination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, pivoted actuators for operating said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, stop arms engaging sai star wheels to normally retain them out of engagement with said roller, trip plates operable to move a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby, and a key lever corresponding to each of said trip plates and operatively connected therewith.

16. In power mechanism for punching machines and the like, thecombination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, pivoted actuators for operating said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, trip plates operable to move a selected star wheel into en agement with said roller to be rotated there y, resilient means for holding said trip plates in normal retracted position, and a key lever operatively connected w-ith each of said trip plates.

17. In power mechanism for punching machines and the like, the combination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, pivoted actuators for operating said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein. trip plates having openings through which the star wheels project to engage the roller and operable to move a selected star wheel into engagement chines and the like,

stop its rotation when it operate said instrumentalities,

with said roller to be eoaoeo oted actuators for operating said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels 'rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, trip plates operable to move a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby and to stop its rotation when it moves out of engagement with the roller, and a key lever operatively connected with each of said trip plates.

19. In power mechanism for punching mathe combination of instrumentalities for impressing a work sheet, pivoted actuators for operating said instrumentalities, a driven roller having depressions in its surface, star wheels rotatably mounted on said actuators adjacent the surface of said roller but engageable with the depressions therein, trip plates operable to move a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby and to moves out of engagement with the roller, a key lever operatively connected with each of said trip plates, and stop arms resiliently engaging said star wheels to move them to and retain them in normal position when released by the trip plates.

20. chines and the like, the combination of a feed roller adapted to engage and feed a work sheet, instrumentalities for making impressions on the work sheet, actuators movable to operate said instrumentalities, means opera- -tively connecting said actuators with said key operated means for moving a selected star 110 In power mechanism for punching mawheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby.

21. In power mechanism for punching machlnes and the like, the combination of a feed roller adapted to engage and feed a work sheet, instrumentalities for making impress1ons on the workheet, actuators movable to a universal bar, means operatively connecting said universal bar with said feed roller for rotating the feed roller when the universal bar is actuated, a driven roller, star wheels on said actuators adjacent said driven roller, key operated means for moving a selected star wheel into engagement with said roller to be rotated thereby, and means on said actuators for operating said universal bar.

CHESTER w. CRUMRINE. 

